Archelaus

Easton's Bible Dictionary

Matthew 2:22

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

Son of Herod the Great by Malthake, a Samaritan. Brought up at Rome with his brother Antipas. Originally Herod excluded him from any share in his dominions, because of his elder brother Antipater's accusations. But at Herod's death the kingdom, by a change in the will, was divided between his three sons, Antipus, Archelaus, and Philip. Archelaus received Idumea, Judaea, Samaria, and the cities Caesarea, Sebaste, Joppa, and Jerusalem, which yielded 600 talents income. Augustus refused him the title "king," and only allowed him the title "ethuarch"; but he had the reality of kingship ( Matthew 2:22), "did reign." For the short time only between his father's death and his going to Rome, to seek confirmation of the kingship from Augustus, had he the title. Josephus (Ant. 17:9, sec. 2) at this period calls him "king." How seemingly near to error, yet how accurately Matthew expresses himself.

In the tenth year of his reign (A.D. 6) his brothers and his subjects complained of his tyranny. So he was dethroned, and exiled to Vienne in Gaul, where he died; but Jerome says his sepulchre was near Bethlehem. When Joseph, at Herod's death, was about to return with the child Jesus from Egypt to the Holy Land, "he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea;" and "he was afraid to go thither" ( Matthew 2:22). Archelaus must therefore have given at the outset of his reign some notorious specimen of his cruelty. Josephus undesignedly supplies this confirmation of Scripture. One of Herod's last deeds was the putting Judas and Matthias to death for instigating young men to pull down a golden eagle set up contrary to Moses' law over the temple gate by Herod; at the Passover which succeeded Herod's death, before Archelaus had as yet the emperor's ratification of his accession, Archelaus, finding several commiserating the martyrs, caused his cavalry to inclose at the temple and slay 3,000 men.

The rest fled to the mountains; and all by Archelaus's command "left the feast, fearing lest something worse should ensue." A deputation of Jews in consequence went to Rome to beg Augustus not to ratify his appointment; but the emperor confirmed Herod's will (Ant. 17:9, sec. 3). That this cruel act was what made Joseph afraid of him is the more likely, as before his accession he had no public post whereby men might have known his character. Joseph turned to Galilee, where the less cruel brother Antipas reigned. The kingdom was originally designed for Antipas; its unexpected transference to Archelaus made Joseph change his direction. The fact of Joseph's fear is stated, the cause is not; but Archelaus's character otherwise known accounts for it. He wedded illegally his brother Alexander's former wife, Glaphyra, who had children by Alexander, thereby giving much offense to the Jews.

Holman Bible Dictionary

Matthew 2:22

Archelaus encountered opposition to his reign from his brothers, in particular Herod Antipas, who felt entitled to the throne. The brothers presented their case to the emperor Augustus, who gave Archelaus one half of his father Herod's land and split the remainder between Antipas and Philip. Archelaus was given the title Tetrarch, but was promised the title of King if he reigned virtuously.

Archelaus interfered in the high priesthood, married against Jewish law, and oppressed the Samaritans and Jews through brutal treatment. In revolt, the people sent deputations to Caesar to have Archelaus denounced. His rule was ended in A.D. 6 when the Roman government banished him to Gaul and added his territory to Syria.

Joseph was warned in a dream to avoid Judea because of Archelaus' rule. He decided to take Mary and the child Jesus to Galilee when they returned from Egypt rather than go to Judea ( Matthew 2:22 ).

Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible

ARCHELAUS . Matthew 2:22 . See Herod, No. 2.

Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament

ARCHELAUS ( Ἀρχέλαος) is named once in the NT ( Matthew 2:22), and probably is referred to in the parable of the Pounds ( Luke 19:12 ff.). He was the elder of the two sons of Herod the Great by Malthace, a Samaritan woman (Josephus BJ i. xxviii. 4, xxxiii. 7). Judaea, with the title of ‘king,’ was bequeathed to him by his father’s will; but he would not assume the royal dignity till he had obtained confirmation of that will from the emperor Augustus ( Ant. xvii. viii. 2–4). Before his departure to Rome a rebellion broke out in Jerusalem; and in quelling it his soldiers put three thousand men to death, among whom were pilgrims visiting the Holy City for the passover ( ib. xvii. ix. 3). Thus at the beginning of his reign an evil reputation was gained by Archelaus, and the alarm of Joseph may be understood (‘ But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither ’).

After the rebellion, Archelaus proceeded to Rome ( Ant. xvii. ix. 3–7, cf. Luke 19:12). Augustus, dealing with Herod’s will, received a deputation from the people of Judaea, who begged that neither Archelaus nor any of his brothers should be appointed king (cf. Luke 19:14). The emperor finally decided that Archelaus should receive Judaea, Samaria, and Idumaea, with the title not of ‘king,’ but of ‘ethnarch’ ( Ant. xvii. xi. 1–4; BJ ii. vi. 3). On his return from Rome the ethnarch sought vengeance against his enemies (cf. Luke 19:27) in Judaea and Samaria. In the ninth or tenth year of his reign, after many acts of tyranny and violence, he was banished by the emperor to Vienne in Gaul ( Ant. xvii. xiii. 2). According to Jerome, the tomb of Archelaus was pointed out near Bethlehem ( de Situ et Nomin. Loc. Hebraic . 101. 11).

Literature.—Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, Wars of the Jews [ BJ ], as cited above; references s . ‘Archelaus’ in Index to Schürer’s Geschichte des Judischen Volkes im Zeitalter Jesu Christi , 1898–1901 [English translation of 2nd ed. 1885–90]; and Hausrath’s Neutestamentliche Zeitgeschichte , 1873–77 [English translation in 2 vols. 1878–80]. Of the last named work, vol. i. [German] was published in a 3rd ed. in 1879.

J. Herkless.

Morrish Bible Dictionary

Son of Herod the Great by Malthace, a Samaritan. He succeeded his father as Ethnarch of Idumea, Judaea, Samaria, and the maritime cities of Palestine. From his known oppressive character Joseph feared to bring back the infant Jesus into his territory, and turned aside to Galilee, which was under the jurisdiction of his brother Antipas. Matthew 2:22 . He reigned 10 years. Josephus relates that soon after his accession he put to death 3,000 Jews: eventually, for his tyranny to the Jews and the Samaritans he was deposed and banished to Vienne in Gaul.

People's Dictionary of the Bible

Archelaus ( är-ke-lâ'us), chief, or prince of the people. A son of Herod the Great, by Malthace his Samaritan wife. Herod bequeathed to him his kingdom, but Augustus confirmed him in the possession of only half of it—Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, with the title of ethnarch, or chief of the nation. After about ten years, on account of his cruelties, he was banished to Vienne in Gaul; and his territories were reduced to the form of a Roman province under the procurator Coponius. In Matthew 2:22, he is said to be king, referring to the interval immediately after the death of Herod, when he assumed the title of king.

Smith's Bible Dictionary

Archela'us. (prince of the people). Son of Herod the Great, by a Samaritan woman, Malthake, and, with his brother, Antipas, brought up at Rome. At the death of Herod, (B.C. 4), his kingdom was divided between his three sons, Herod Antipas, Archelaus and Philip. Archelaus never properly bore the title of king, Matthew 2:22, but only that of ethnarch.

In the tenth year of his reign, or the ninth according to Dion Cassius, that is, A.D. 6, a complaint was preferred against him by his brothers and his subjects on the ground of his tyranny, in consequence of which he was banished to Vienne in Gaul, where he is generally said to have died.

Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary

son of Herod the Great, and Maltace, his fifth wife. Herod having put to death his sons Alexander, Aristobulus, and Antipater, and expunged out of his will Herod Antipas, whom he had declared king, he substituted Archelaus, and gave Antipas the title of tetrarch only. After the death of Herod, Archelaus ordered that king's will to be read, wherein he, Archelaus, was declared king, on condition that Augustus consented. Hereupon the assembly cried, "Long live king Archelaus!" and the soldiers promised the same fidelity to him as they had shown to his father.

Archelaus buried his father magnificently, came to Jerusalem, and there mourned seven days, according to custom. He then gave a splendid entertainment to the people, went to the temple, harangued the multitude, promised them good treatment, and declared he would not assume the title of king till the emperor had confirmed it, A.M. 4001; B.C. 3. The people, notwithstanding, tumultuously demanded the execution of those who advised Herod to slay certain zealots, who had pulled down a golden eagle from one of the temple gates. They also required Archelaus to divest Joazar of the high priesthood; and they vehemently reproached the memory of the late king. Archelaus sent troops to suppress the mutineers, and killed near three thousand of them about the temple. After this he embarked at Caesarea for Rome, to procure from Augustus the confirmation of Herod's will. Antipas, his brother, went to Rome likewise, to dispute his title, pretending that Herod's first will should be preferred to his last, which he alleged to have been made by him when his understanding was not sound.

The two brothers, Archelaus and Antipas, procured able orators to display their pretensions before the emperor; and when they had done speaking, Archelaus threw himself at Augustus's feet. Augustus gently raised him, said he would do nothing contrary to Herod's intention or his interest, but refused to decide the affair at that time. Some time afterward, the Jews sent a solemn embassy to Rome, to desire Augustus would permit them to live according to their own laws, and on the footing of a Roman province, without being subject to kings of Herod's family, but only to the governors of Syria. Augustus heard them, and likewise heard Archelaus in reply; then broke up the assembly without declaring himself. After some days, he sent for Archelaus, gave him the title, not of king, but of ethnarch, with one moiety of the territories which his father Herod had enjoyed; promising him the crown likewise, if his good conduct deserved it. Archelaus returned to Judea, and, under pretence that he had countenanced the seditions against him, he deprived Joazar of the high priesthood, and gave that dignity to his brother Eleazar. He governed Judea with so much violence, that, after seven years, the chiefs of the Samaritans and Jews accused him before Augustus. The emperor immediately sent for his agent at Rome, and without condescending to write to Archelaus he commanded the agent to depart instantly for Judea, and order Archelaus to Rome, to give an account of his conduct. On his arrival at Rome, the emperor called for his accusers, and permitted him to defend himself; which he did so insufficiently, that Augustus banished him to Vienne, in Gaul, where he continued in exile to the end of his life. See ANTIPAS .

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

ar -kē̇ -lā´us ( Ἀρχέλαος , Archélaos , Matthew 2:22 ): Son of Herod the Great by his wife Malthace. He succeeded on his father's death to the government of Judea, Samaria and Idumaea, but was deposed by the Romans for misgovernment in 6 ad. See Herod .

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblial Literature

Archela´us, son of Herod the Great, and his successor in Idumaea, Judea, and Samaria ( Matthew 2:22) [HERODIAN FAMILY].

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

( Ἀρχέλαος , ruler of the people, Talmud ארקילוס ), son of Herod the Great by Malthace, a Samaritan woman (Josephus, Ant. 17, 1:3; War, 1:28, 4), and brought up, with his brother Antipas, at Rome (Joseph. War, 1:31, 1). He inherited of his father's dominions (B.C. 4) Idummea, Judaea, and Samaria, with the important cities Caesarea, Sebaste, Joppa, and Jerusalem, and a yearly income of 600 talents, as ethnarch (Joseph. Ant. 17:11, 4; called king, βασιλεύς, in Matthew 2:22, in the sense of "prince," "regent;" comp. the commentators in loc.). His reign had commenced inauspiciously; for, after the death of Herod, and before Archelaus could go to Rome to obtain the confirmation of his father's will, the Jews having become very tumultuous at the Temple in consequence of his refusing some demands, Archelaus ordered his soldiers to attack them, on which occasion upward of three thousand were slain (Josephus, Ant. 17, 9, 3; War, 2, 1, 3). On Archelaus going to Rome to solicit the royal dignity (agreeably to the practice of the tributary kings of that age, who received their crowns from the Roman emperor), the Jews sent an embassy, consisting of fifty of their principal men, with a petition to Augustus that they might be permitted to live according to their own laws, under a Roman governor, and also complaining of his cruelty — (Josephus, War, 2, 2-7). To this circumstance our Lord perhaps alludes in the parable related by Luke ( Luke 19:12-27): "A certain nobleman ( εὐγενής, a man of birth or rank, the son of Herod) went into a far country (Italy), to receive for himself a kingdom (Judaea), and to return. But his citizens (the Jews) hated him, and sent a message (or embassy) after him (to Augustus Caesar), saying, ‘ We will not have this man to reign over us.' "The Jews, however, failed in this remonstrance (Josephus, Ant. 17:11, 4). Archelaus returned to Judaea, and under pretense that he had countenanced the seditious against him, he deprived Joazar of the highpriesthood, and gave that dignity to his brother Eleazar. He governed Judaea with so much violence that, in the tenth (Joseph. Ant. 17, 13, 2; comp. Life, 1) or ninth (Joseph. War, 2:7, 3) year of his reign (according to Dio Cass. 60, 27, under the consulate of M. AEm. Lepidus and L. Aruntius, corresponding to A. D. 6), on account of his tyranny, especially toward the Samaritans, he was dethroned, deprived of his property, and banished to Vienna in Gaul (Joseph. Ant. 17, 13, 2), where he died (the year is unknown; Jerome, Onomast. s.v. Bethlehem, asserts that his grave was shown in this latter place, in which case he must have returned to Palestine as a private person). The parents of our Lord turned aside from fear of him on their way back from Egypt, and went to Nazareth in Galilee, in the domain of his gentler brother Antipas ( Matthew 2:22). He seems to have been guilty of great inhumanity and oppression. This cruelty was exercised not only toward Jews, but toward Samaritans also (Josephus, War, 2, 7, 3). He had illegally married Glaphyra, the wife of his brother Alexander, during the lifetime of the latter, who left several children by her (Joseph. Ant. 17, 13, 1). — Noldii Hist. Idum. p. 219 sq.; Smith's Dict. of Class. Biog. s.v. (See Herod).

is also the name of several other persons mentioned by Josephus.

1. The last of the kings of Cappadocia by that name, who received the throne (B.C. 34) from Marc Antony, and was afterward held in great esteem by Augustus and the succeeding emperors, but at length fell under the displeasure of Tiberius, and died at Rome, A.D. 17. (See Smith's Dict. of Class. Biog. s.v.) He was on intimate terms with Herod the Great (Josephus, Ant. 16, 10, 6, 7), whose son Alexander married his daughter Glaphyra (ib. 8, 6), and his intervention was of service in reconciling Herod with his sons and brother (ib. 4, 6; War, 1, 25). (See Alexander).

2. Julius Archelaus Epiphanes, son of Antiochus and grandson of Chelcias; he espoused Mariamne, the young daughter of Herod Agrippa I, while yet a girl of ten years; b